Matrix-centering mechanism for type-machines.



IlrvTTlsn TnTns aatented December 1, 1903'.

PATENT Trios,

.IOHN MAURY DOVE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO LANSTON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

MECHANiSM FOR TYP-MACHINES.

SECFEGATION forming part of Letters atent No. 745,800, dated December l, 1903.

Application led June 2e, 1902. Serial No. `113,027. (No model.)

all to2/tom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN MAURY Dovn, of lVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 5 in Matrix-@entering Mechanism for Type- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the acconpauying drawings, forming a part of this io specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of auto'- matic typecasting machines illustrated in Patents Nos. G Zbdjll and 6323,08S,Yin which a die-case carrying aseriesof/ilependentlymovable matrices, each furnished with a centering-cavity, is shift-ed intermediate a centering-plunger and mold to present successive matrices opposite the mold and properly zo locate and hold them upon the mold While casts are being made, and has for its object to facilitate the final centering ofthe matrices and to prevent injury thereto both during the iinal centering and in the event of inaccurate preliminary centering incident to de-` fective adjustments.

To this end the invention consists in the use of acenteringguard-plate mounted upon the shifting die-case and provided with a perforation opposite each matrix for the passage of the centering-plunger, whereby the hnal centering of the die-case is effected by the plunger in advance of its contact With the selected matrix and the iinal centering of the latter, and in the event the preliminary centeringr is incorrectly performed, owing to defective adjustment, the impact of the centering-plunger will be received upon said centering -plate instead of upon the matrices,

4o and the mutilation of the latter Will thereby be prevented, all as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating i the preferred embodiment of said invention, Figure l is a top plan view of the die-case, detached, With the centering-plate applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the die-case and centering-plate, together with the operating end of the centering-plunger and mold. Fig. 3 is a similar :o view with the die-case out of proper preliminary centering position and the centering Y guard-plate protecting the matrices.

Similar numerals in the several gures indicate the same parts.

The invention is illustrated in connection with the die-case and centering mechanism of PatentNo. 625,998. Itis sufficient forpresent purposes to remark that the die-easel,- carrying the separate and independently- 6o movable matrices 2, is so connected to appropriate actuating devices as to be shifted laterally to present any one of its matrices opposite the mold 3 and centering-plunger 4,

the latter provided with a conical tip adapted to enter a corresponding recess 5 in the upper end of eachmat-riX and press and hold the latter in position upon the mold. The die-caseshifting mechanism effects a preliminary centering of the selected matrix by measured 7o movements of the die case in transverse planes. The dual adjustment oi' the matrix is effected by the centering-plunger. The preliminary centering affects directly the diecase and is subject to slight variations, and the final centering affects directly the selected and preliminarily-centered matrix to cover its individual range of motion in the die-case and may'include in addition a slight movement of the die-case. 8c

It not infrequently happens, especially when starting up a machine, that through improper adjustment of the connections the preliminary centering of the die-case is not entirely accurate,although Well Within the range 8 5 of the taper on the centering plunger, in which event the latter in its descent Will engage the side Wall of the matrix and force the latter, as Well as the die-case, into position. In this Way the matrices are subjected to an 9o excessive degree of Wear, as through them the shifting of the relatively heavy die-case is effected, resulting in rapid deterioration 0fthis valuable and delicate element of the machine. Moreover, itsometimes happens that through accident or Want of proper adjustment the die-case during the preliminary centering operation Will be arrested in a position so as to bring the axis of the conicalcentering-plunger wholly or partially to one side of the margin of the centering-cavity, so that upon the descent of the plunger its point instead of entering the centering-cavity will engage and be driven into the surface of the matrix, resulting in serious, if not irreparable, injury to the latter.

To protect the matrices from wear and mutilation', the die-case l is provided with a guard-plate 6, interposed between the matrices and the centering-plunger. rlhis guardplate, preferably of steel and detachably applied to the die-case trame, is provided with aseries ofperforations 7, spaced to correspond with the correct positions of the matrices and adapted to lit thestem of the plunger, so that before engaging any matrix the plunger must first pass through the corresponding perforation in the guard-plate. By this means two important practical results are obtained. In the first place the final centering of the diecase as a wholeis effected by the engagement of the tapered plunger with the guard-plate and the friction incident thereto is transferred from the centering-cavityin thecom paratively soft matrix to the walls of 'the orifice in the relatively hard guard-plate, so that the nal centering operation is limited to the shifting of the-matrix through the very slight degree of motion permitted the individual matrices in the die-case, and in the second place direct contact of the centering-plunger with the rear end or face or" the matrix and the mutilation of the latter incident thereto is rendered impossible, because if the preliminary centering of the die-case is such as -to permit the entrance of the centering-plunger into one of the perforations 7 the matrix must stand or be brought into such relation to the point of the plunger that the latter will surely enter the centering-cavity, and if through maladjustment the die-case is not so presented an imperforate section of the guardplate will be interposed between the plunger and matrix, as seen in Fig. 3, in position to receive the impact of the plunger, and thus prevent mutilation of the matrix.

Having thus described myinvention, what claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a type-casting or analogous machine, the combination with a reciprocating tapering centering-plunger and a shifting die-case provided with independently-movable matrices each furnished with a centering-cavity, of a perforated guard-plate movable with the die-case and interposed between the centering-plunger and the matrices; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a type-casting machine such as described the combination of the following elements, to wit; a mold; a centering-plunger in alinement with the mold; a die-case reciprocating in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the centering-plunger and intermediate the latter and the mold; a series of independently-movable matrices supported in the die-case and each furnished with centering means corporating with the centering-plunger; and a guard-plate carried by the die-case and provided with centering-oritiees for the passage of the centering-plunger in advance of its engagement with the centering means of the matrices.

3. ln a type-casting machine such as described the combination ot the following elements, to wit; a mold; a die-case provided with a series of independently-movable matrices and shiftable across the mold to bring Vany matrix into position; a centering-plunger 'DIGDL JOHN MAURY DOVE.

Witnesses: p

JOSEPH B. CHURCH, BENJAMIN F. COLE. 

